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Clinton Morrison analyses the recent VAR controversy from Arsenal’s win over West Ham, the Southampton spying scandal, Chelsea’s reported discussions with Xabi Alonso, and previews the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City.

Let me begin this week by looking back at the late drama in the West Ham versus Arsenal game last weekend. In the end, I think the officials reached the correct conclusion by disallowing Callum Wilson’s goal, but there were several incidents before that which VAR must address before next season.

Watching the replay, it’s clear that Leandro Trossard wasn’t even focusing on the ball when he blocked Pablo in the penalty area. If a player isn’t looking at the ball and is holding an opponent, that should be a penalty every time.

Morrison was speaking on behalf of Freebets.com.

To be fair to Darren England and the VAR team, they ultimately made the right call, confirming that Pablo did indeed catch David Raya in the face. It took a few minutes for the decision to be finalised, but I’m glad it did because it was a massive call that could have influenced both the Premier League title race and the relegation battle.

They got that one right, but the constant shirt tugging and grappling inside the box must be eliminated next season. The inconsistency is infuriating — one week such incidents are penalised, and the next week, the same offence is ignored completely.

That result means Arsenal are now in a commanding position in the title race, and it would be a huge surprise if they slipped up. Still, football is unpredictable. Arsenal face Crystal Palace on the final day, and I expect them to win at Selhurst Park because Oliver Glasner likely won’t risk his star players just three days before their Conference League final.

Of course, things could have been very different if Mateus Fernandes had scored his one-on-one chance against Raya. That would have reopened the title race, but as it stands, Arsenal remain strong favourites.

Shifting focus to West London — it appears Chelsea have opened talks with Xabi Alonso over becoming their new manager.

He’s an exceptional coach and has the qualities to transform Chelsea back into a dominant side. The issue, however, is that his heart seems set on Liverpool. But how long can he hold out for a position that might never materialise? If Liverpool continue with Arne Slot and he starts the next season strongly, that opening may never come.

So, what should Alonso do? When a club as big as Chelsea comes calling, it’s tough to decline. Even if he doesn’t stay long, the Liverpool opportunity might still arise later. But managing Chelsea first won’t go down well with Liverpool supporters, given the fierce rivalry between the two clubs.

I also believe Andoni Iraola would be a smart choice for Chelsea, though I’d personally love to see him at Crystal Palace next season! We could be in for a major managerial merry-go-round this summer. It’ll be interesting to see who replaces Glasner at Selhurst Park. If I had to make a bold prediction, I’d say Iraola to Chelsea and the Fulham boss heading to Palace — that’s what I’m hoping for!

I must also address the spying controversy overshadowing the Southampton versus Middlesbrough play-off semi-final. It’s baffling — why spy on a rival’s training session ahead of a two-legged tie? They’ve already faced Middlesbrough twice this season, and their key player, Hayden Hackney, is injured anyway.

It leaves a bad impression. Instead of focusing on Southampton’s impressive football and the excellent work Tonda Eckert has done, we’re discussing ‘Spygate’ instead.

As far as punishment goes, a fine alone won’t be sufficient if the EFL wants to impose a meaningful sporting sanction.

But expelling Southampton would be deeply unfair to the players and fans, who’ve done nothing wrong. It’s a complicated situation. The EFL must reach a decision before the final on the 23rd. I doubt they’ll remove the club, but Middlesbrough fans will certainly be calling for it.

Boro manager Kim Hellberg has handled the entire episode with great professionalism, and he deserves far better than to be involved in such a chaotic situation.

On a brighter note, the FA Cup final is here this afternoon. If Chelsea perform as they have in recent weeks, they could be in trouble. That said, they impressed in the semi-final against Leeds and showed that they can rise to the occasion. I expect it to be a competitive game, but I’m backing Manchester City to edge it in 90 minutes.

If Rodri returns to full fitness and starts in midfield, that could determine the outcome. Erling Haaland will also fancy his chances against Chelsea’s defence, while Jérémy Doku has been in excellent form and will relish taking on Malo Gusto if Reece James isn’t fit to start. My prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea.